BARCELONA are yet to decided whether Alex Song will be allowed to leave the club in January.

Former Arsenal midfielder Song has been linked with a move to Manchester United, with AC Milan also thought to be interested in the Cameroon international.

Song is believed to be unhappy with his playing time at the Camp Nou, but with Barca having invested £16m to sign the 26-year-old last year, the club wants more time to decide whether to cut ties with the player.

Alex Song could be keen on a return to England [GETTY]

The verdict is still out on Alex Song at Barcelona

According to Spanish daily Sport, that could scupper any chance of a January move, with an end-of-season transfer seeming a more likely possibility at this stage.

And the paper suggests that Song himself hasn't given up hope of winning over new coach Gerardo Martino during the current campaign.

Alex Song is behind Sergi Busquets in the Barcelona pecking order [GETTY]

Alex Song still hopes to win over Gerardo Martino [GETTY]

Barca are believed to want to recoup at leas the £16m they spent on the player a year ago to part with Song.

United made several bids for Song's Barcelona (and former Arsenal) teammate Cesc Fabregas this summer, but with the Spaniard living out his dream of playing for his childhood club, the Red Devils have now set their sights on the seemingly more available Song.